Examples Of Tribalism In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe and Tribalism In his works, Chinua Achebe writes about how tribalism, or group identities, acts as the source of both flaws and progress in societies. As stated in an interview, Achebe did “not think that there [was] any time in [Nigerian] history when things were perfect”. He continues on, however, stating that “...every generation has to examine what needs to be done, what belongs to its peace and proceed” (No Condition is Permanent). His desire for peace as described in this quote is well reflected by his fictional characters and their conflicts in Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, and Arrow of God. Acting as miniatures of contemporary societies, these works clearly depict how tribalism can either hinder or nurture positive progress in societies, emphasizing the importance of open-mindedness that is not strained by prejudice for peaceful coexistence.
In Achebe’s most famous work, Things Fall Apart, Achebe introduces the concept of xenophobia and how one who harbors a xenophobic attitude may strictly adhere to a group identity that may prove harmful to maintaining peace in a society. Things Fall Apart is a story about a highly respected man named Okonkwo, who values strong group identity, is stubborn, and is xenophobic. Okonkwo fails to tolerate the differences between his own culture and that of white colonists, and thus suffers negative consequences. Okonkwo’s village, Umuofia, is exposed to European colonists for the first time; however,
Pride In Things Fall Apart
1119 Words | 5 PagesThe novel "Thing's fall apart" by Chinua Achebe is a complex work that masterfully establishes and develops characters through their experience with cultural collision. The way that Achebe accomplishes carefully weaving his implicit claim throughout the work is such a beautiful subtlety that it deserves to be analyzed. The Igbo's pride is constantly challenged by the colonizers as they gain increasingly more power in Africa. The idea of pride is constantly developed throughout the thoughts and actions of the novels protagonist Okonkwo. His response to the colonizers is influenced by his own views on pride and is used by Achebe to illustrate his own opinion on pride.
Things Fall Apart And British Colonialism
889 Words | 4 PagesHow do the British attempt to raise their own perception of “civilization” over that of the colonial subject? 4.How does Okonkwo retain his pride and cultural identity during the British colonial occupation? What cultural and social values make him less susceptible to British colonial tyranny? 5.How does Okonkwo’s understanding of the family unit define his role as a member of Igbo tribe? What indigenous values in African tribes provide a framework for tribal customs in contrast the white European family values that are imposed on him and his family?
Okonkwo Masculinity Quotes
970 Words | 4 PagesThis also represents the importance of image to him and shows that he is self-conscious about himself. “‘We shall not do you any harm,’ said the District Commissioner..” (Achebe 194). This is quite ironic since the Europeans ended up abusing Okonkwo and his comrades and eventually destroying the Igbo culture. In this quote the author is implying that in the European's’ perspective, they are doing a good thing for the Igbo in the Umuofia by changing their beliefs, but in reality they are destroying their culture which the foundation and the identity of the Igbo.
Cultural Collision In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
855 Words | 4 PagesOkonkwo’s values are restricted to physical strength, power, and prosperity, and when the Europeans suddenly arrive, the cultural convergence prompts Okonkwo to respond with even more violence. While the majority of his tribe, including his son Nwoye, is open to considering
Social Status In Things Fall Apart
1027 Words | 5 PagesThe tripartite novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, published in 1958 focuses on the changes taking place in Nigeria, as a result of colonization during the 20th century. Chinua Achebe’s pragmatics when writing the novel focused on changing the perspective of Western readers with regard to African society. He mainly wanted to falsify the assertions in books such as “Heart of Darkness” which he claimed gave people of African descent a dull personality. Social status is one of the novels’ main themes. Chinua Achebe successfully incorporates the importance of social status, giving readers the impression that for the Ibo society, social structure consists mainly of a hierarchy of both skill and strength.
Stereotypes In Things Fall Apart
1145 Words | 5 PagesMany stereotypes of African culture have emerged due to western literature and media and first hand accounts of explorers. Things Fall Apart offers a view into the truth and reality of African cultures, which are often misconceptualized by these stereotypes. Acebe shows how African society functions well without assistance from foreign travelers. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe counters the imperialist stereotypes of Africa by keeping certain words in the Igbo language, as opposed to translating them into English, to fight back against the spreading western culture and to embrace their own way of life. He also counters the imperialist stereotypes of Africa by using Igbo proverbs to show how their culture values many of the same things that western
Summary: Okonkwo Falls Apart
1027 Words | 5 PagesWhen Okonkwo first returns back from his exile and hears the news of the white man in Umuofia, his anger increases that no one is trying to fight them. Even after his friend Obierika tells him about how the village Abame was destroyed by similar white missionaries Okonkwo simply thinks “Abame people were weak and foolish. Why did they not fight back... We would be cowards to compare ourselves to the men of Abame” (175). Okonkwo 's aggression blinds him to the dangers of rebelling against the white man, that he is willing to risk the destruction of his whole village just to satisfy his ideology of respecting his religion.
Change In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
889 Words | 4 PagesEveryone as a human being has experienced some form of change in our life, big or small, and it has a lasting effect on who they are and how they act. In Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’, change is a forward facing theme of the whole story, we see change in all forms occur throughout the book; the arrival of the white men and their changing of the igbo culture, the tearing apart of Okonkwo’s family by religion and traditions, and the change that occurs within Okonkwo himself when he realizes he cannot prevent change from happening in the community and culture he loved. Change is destructive in ‘Things Fall Apart’, especially to such a magnitude as we see in the story, it is destructive to communities, to families, and especially to individuals.
Igbo Traditions In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
784 Words | 4 PagesWithout understanding the real Igbo culture, the District Commissioner in the novel decides to title his book “The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.(Achebe, 209)” As Nick Knudsen mentions in his Prezi, Irony in Things Fall Apart, this shows the Commissioner’s ignorance of how culturally sophisticated the Igbo are, and demonstrates the fact that Europeans are clearly in the wrong, without passing judgement on them. Throughout the novel, Achebe suggests that just because Igbo society pass on knowledges orally, does not mean that they are primitive. By using Western literary tradition, the author implies a message
Analysis Of Igbo Culture In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe
837 Words | 4 Pages“Things Fall Apart”, a novel written by Chinua Achebe about Africa through the character Okonkwo, a man who Achebe uses to illustrate the complexity Igbo culture, contrary to what the Europeans portrayed Africa as. One main focus of the book is to counter the single story, which is the idea that an area is represented by one story, similar to a stereotype. However, differing from a stereotype a single story often completely misrepresents something, and in this case Africa. Europeans had been the only ones writing about Africa, describing all the culture as problematic for being different, rather than looking at what African culture really is. Achebe was one of the first to write about African culture for westerners to read about, making Things Fall Apart a true innovation in writing.
Family Roles In Things Fall Apart
1203 Words | 5 PagesThe novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe talks about the Igbo, an indigenous Nigerian people, and about a culture on the brink of change. Indeed, through the life of Okonkwo, an Igbo leader in the fictional Nigerian village of Umuofia, Achebe describes how the prospect and reality of change affect different characters. In the Igbo culture the family unit plays a fundamental role and the members of a family highly value the mutual respect for each other, a reverence for all past fathers, and unity. The father is considered not only as the head of the family and its provider, but the defender of its honor as well as the teacher of his sons.
The Negative Effects Of Colonialism In Achebe's Things Fall Apart
1030 Words | 5 PagesAchebe illustrates that colonialism has a negative effect on Ibo culture by dividing Ibo people, which results in the downfall of Ibo civilization. Before white men arrive to Ibo society, there is no sense of colonialism. In this atmosphere, the Ibo society functions
Essay On Religion In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
846 Words | 4 PagesReligion in Things Fall Apart Religion is the belief in a greater power, which shapes the way someone lives their life. Religion can bring people together, or it can pull them apart. The novel Things Fall Apart, a work by Chinua Achebe, is about a man named Okonkwo and how he and his village deal with the colonization of Christianity. In the end, it pulled Okonkwo away from his people, leading him to his death.
Things Fall Apart Feminist Analysis
878 Words | 4 PagesFeminist Theory In Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”, they recognize the life of the Igbos which are a tribe in the village of Umuofia during European colonization. There are many topics brought up in this book like the effects of colonization, culture and tradition, religion, race, etc. It is relatively easy to read “Things Fall Apart” as an anti-feminist text due to the face that the Igbo clan’s customs and traditions seem to side towards masculine features, such as power and strength. The novel is told through a male protagonist’s point of view in nineteenth century Nigeria, while women there do not have much rights, they do wield heavy influence over the leaders of the clan.
Effects Of Colonialism In Things Fall Apart
1038 Words | 5 PagesAchebe illustrates that colonialism has a negative effect on Ibo culture by dividing Ibo people, which results in the downfall of Ibo civilization. Before white men arrive to Ibo society, there is no sense of colonialism. In this atmosphere, the Ibo society functions
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